I was reviewing the scripture that we had looked at on Wednesday night, and I came across this verse.
Jeremiah 23:16 (KJV) Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.My thinking had three levels. The first level was the obvious, the literal. The prophets running the streets of Jerusalem were doing nothing but catering to themselves and trying to gather a loyal following for their own egos. That seems obvious.
Then my thinking went to the rabbi’s of Jesus’ day. These are the ones that have been vigorously producing the Talmud. The Talmud is the product of the rabbis sitting around and deciding what it was that God really wanted to say, but didn’t have the nerve or the insight. The rabbi’s made up for God’s lack by filling in all the gaps in the law of Moses that had better indicators in the oral law. From the quotations I’ve heard from the Talmud it’s one of those books you can find what you want. There are some inspiring spots, some humor spots, and an overwhelming pile of garbage.
And then, finally, as often happens, I turned my sites on myself. I’m not sure I liked what I saw. I tend to like to express my opinions. If my opinions are rooted in God‘s word and lavishly basted in humility than well and good. Too often I get sidetracked by how clever I can be. That works for no one’s edification.
I recommend, to you and myself, to read carefully, contemplate, think two or three times, and then if you still have something to say, be careful how you say it. Part of worship is sharing. It is not just a chance to sound off.
homo unius libri
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Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.